The regime of Bashar al-Assad has been able to crush opposition through the use of routine torture and oppression in secret prison facilities, according to a report.

The Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad has been operating a network of secret prisons and torture facilities across the country, whilst his forces regain territory in the country’s civil war, it has been revealed.

A report published by the New York Times (NYT) on Saturday found that the rate at which people in the war-ravaged nation are disappearing is still increasing, despite the fact that the regime is regaining territory.

“While the Syrian military, backed by Russia and Iran, fought armed rebels for territory, the government waged a ruthless war on civilians, throwing hundreds of thousands into filthy dungeons where thousands were tortured and killed.” [1]

Research undertaken by the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), on behalf of the NYT, found that although the number of people disappearing peaked during the early stages of the uprising, in 2018 there were 5,067 arbitrary arrests, with 100 people being arrested every week. This figure represents a 25% increase from 2017. [2]

Although the barbarity of the so-called ‘Islamic state’ (ISIS) in its kidnappings and killings captured more global attention, the Syrian regime kidnapped and detained many more people and regime abductions make up 90% of all disappearances.

According to the SNHR, 81,652 individuals have forcibly been disappeared by the Syrian regime, with 9,994 individuals being disappeared by ‘ISIS’ and less than 2000 by other rebel groups and Kurdish forces. 2 Up to 128,000 people have never been seen since their abduction and are either still in custody or presumed dead. Furthermore, 14,129 individuals have been killed due to torture by the regime’s security and intelligence services. [2]

According to SNHR, many prisoners die due to the inhumane conditions of the prisons. These conditions are so dire that the UN, in an investigation, labelled the regime’s process of kidnapping, imprisoning, and torturing civilians as a process of “extermination”. [1]

Accounts from several survivors were shared by the NYT and these documented gruesome testimonies of how they were arrested, detained in secret prison facilities, and brutally tortured by the regime’s intelligence services. Witnesses also revealed how regime officials disregarded confessions, whether they were true or false, and instead, revelled in inflicting misery and pain on their captives.

Muhannad Ghabbash, a law student from Aleppo, was arrested by intelligence services in 2011 for organising peaceful protests. Although Ghabbash confessed to his role in the protests, regime officers continued to torture him for 12 days. This included, among others, hanging him from his wrists for long hours, shocking him with electricity, and psychologically humiliating him.

Eventually, due to the extreme nature of the torture, he was forced to lie and write a false confession saying he planned a bombing. Nonetheless, this did not prevent the officials from relenting in their oppression. He was transferred to an overpopulated prison in Damascus where he was routinely tortured.

The account described the sadistic nature of the security services:

“To entertain colleagues over dinner, he and other survivors said, an officer calling himself Hitler forced prisoners to act the roles of dogs, donkeys and cats, beating those who failed to bark or bray correctly.” [1]

It added:

“In a military hospital, he said, he watched a nurse bash the face of an amputee who begged for painkillers. In yet another prison, he counted 19 cellmates who died from disease, torture and neglect in a single month.” [1]

According to the report, these accounts are just a few among hundreds of thousands of people who are believed to have been abducted by the regime and thrown into secret torture facilities since the start of the uprising in 2011.

Syria’s eight-year civil war was born out of peace protests by Syrian civilians for reforms and changes in the Syrian regime. The latter’s response was one of violence and brutality, which forced the people to take up arms in defence.

Over 500,000 people have been killed in the ensuing violence, with many more being displaced. The Syrian regime, with backing and support from its allies in Russia and Iran, has been able to militarily defeat opposition and rebel fighters, and are regaining territory that had been lost in previous years.

China has banned civil servants, students and teachers in its mainly Muslim Xinjiang region from fasting during Ramadan and ordered restaurants to stay open.

Most Muslims are required to fast from dawn to dusk during the holy month, but China’s ruling Communist party is officially atheist and for years has restricted the practice in Xinjiang, home to the mostly Muslim Uighur minority.

“Food service workplaces will operate normal hours during Ramadan,” said a notice posted last week on the website of the state Food and Drug Administration in Xinjiang’s Jinghe county.

Officials in the region’s Bole county were told: “During Ramadan do not engage in fasting, vigils or other religious activities,” according to a local government website report of a meeting this week.

Each year, the authorities’ attempt to ban fasting among Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang receives widespread criticism from rights groups.

Uighur rights groups say China’s restrictions on Islam in Xinjiang have added to ethnic tensions in the region, where clashes have killed hundreds in recent years.

“China’s goal in prohibiting fasting is to forcibly move Uighurs away from their Muslim culture during Ramadan,” said Dilxat Rexit, a spokesman for the exiled World Uyghur Congress.

“Policies that prohibit religious fasting is a provocation and will only lead to instability and conflict.”

As in previous years, school children were included in directives limiting Ramadan fasting and other religious observances.

The education bureau of Tarbaghatay city, known as Tacheng in Chinese, this month ordered schools to communicate to students that “during Ramadan, ethnic minority students do not fast, do not enter mosques … and do not attend religious activities”.

Similar orders were posted on the websites of other Xinjiang education bureaus and schools.

Officials in the region’s Qiemo county this week met local religious leaders to inform them there would be increased inspections during Ramadan in order to “maintain social stability”, the county’s official website said.

Ahead of the holy month, one village in Yili, near the border with Kazakhstan, said mosques must check the identification cards of anyone who comes to pray during Ramadan, according to a notice on the government’s website.

The Bole county government said that Mehmet Talip, a 90-year-old Uighur Communist Party member, had promised to avoid fasting and vowed to “not enter a mosque in order to consciously resist religious and superstitious ideas”.

The Sri Lankan government has banned Muslim women from wearing the niqāb and burqa in public following the deadly attacks that took place last week.

President Maithripala Sirisena said the ban was in accordance with an emergency law and will be imposed from Monday onwards, saying that any face garment that “hinders identification” will be banned to ensure security. [1] A statement from the president’s office read.

“The ban is to ensure national security. No one should obscure their faces to make identification difficult.” [2]

Another presidential spokesman added that “it is a presidential order to ban any dress covering faces with immediate effect”. [2]

Human rights organisations and Muslim organisations have criticised the ban, arguing that it could cause tensions between the Muslim community and others, as well as fuel long-term discrimination against Muslims, especially those who wear the niqāb and burqa.

In particular, Human Rights Watch has warned that the ban could leave Muslim women feeling vulnerable and that the ban could be seen as a green light to right-wing and nationalist groups to attack Muslim communities, who are already beginning to face reprisal attacks.

Kenneth Roth, the body’s executive director, tweeted:

No indication that recent Sri Lanka bombers covered their faces but Pres Sirisena bans face covering. That needless restriction means that Muslim women whose practice leads them to cover up now won’t be able to leave home. https://trib.al/dJ754i5

The All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU), a body that represents senior scholars in the country, has supported a short-term emergency restriction on the face coverings. Farhan Faris, assistant manager of the ACJU said:

“We have given guidance to the Muslim women to not to cover their faces in this emergency situation.” [2]

However, the ACJU is opposed to any law that implements a permanent ban, with Faris adding, “if you make it a law, people will become emotional and this will bring another bad impact, it is their religious right.” [2]

The ACJU also criticised a Sri Lankan MP that proposed a ban, saying that they “strongly criticise the decision. We will not accept the authorities interfering with the religion without consulting the religious leadership”. [1]

Muslims across the South Asian island are living in uncertainty, with the fear of retaliation and reprisal attacks running high. Muslim-owned shops and businesses close early and many argue that the uncertainty has affected their business.

“Everybody is feeling fear all the time, they are afraid to stay open late as there could be (more) attacks,” said a Muslim resident of Colombo who is also an industrial hardware trader. [3]

Another resident said, “Muslims are afraid, I have a beard, so when I go out on the road I get stopped immediately by the police. It was never like this before. Now there is a black mark against us, and you cannot easily erase that. It could take years, even decades”. [3]

On Sunday April 21st, a group of suicide bombers attacked churches and hotels, killing over 300 people and injuring a further 500. The dead and injured included local residents, as well as foreign nationals.

Corruption charged, incumbent benjamin netanyahu has declared victory in the Zionist State’s Legislative Elections after mustering the support of ‘extremist’ parties in, what is to become, yet another far-right government.[1] In the close contest between his Likud party and Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party, ‘Israelis’ cast their votes to choose the next head of the entity’s 21st Parliament (Knesset) since the creation of the Zionist State. The two main parties secured 35 seats a piece in the election, but the right-wing bloc from the 2015 coalition is likely to lend its support to Netanyahu, passing the 61-seat threshold needed to form a government.

The 2019 election was called in early, in an attempt to avoid the collapse of the Netanyahu government following its scuppered 2018 ‘special operation’ against Gaza, which resulted in the resignation of Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman and the subsequent altercation over this position in the radical bloc.[2]

Polls opened at 7am and closed at 10pm. More than 10,700 polling stations were made available, inviting Zionist settlers, living in illegal settlements in the West Bank, to cast their vote. The elections, however, barred 4.8 million Palestinians, who live under military occupation in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, from participating. As voting began, there were reports that right-wing activists of the Likud party had installed 1,200 body cameras at polling sites in Arab majority areas, seemingly to spy on their voting behaviours.[3] Judge Hanan Melcer, chairman of the Central Elections Committee (CEC), filed a complaint to the police after receiving these reports, and the cameras were apparently removed.[3]

Benjamin netanyahu, and his right-wing Likud party, was pitted against 37 other parties and candidates, most notably Benny Gantz, the former army chief of staff, and his White and Blue party, Neftali Bennet, the former education minister, and his far-right New Right party, and Moshe Feiglin with his ultra-nationalist Identity party.

The election campaign was marred by racist rhetoric, seeing the foremost candidates attacking Palestinians to garner more support. On April 7th, netanyahu vowed to annex the illegal settlements in the West Bank, an act that would cement the illegal colonisation of Palestinian land.[4] The incumbent Prime Minister, who already faces corruption charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust[5] has, according to critics, killed any remaining “delusion about a two-state solution”[6], saying:

“You are asking whether we are moving on to the next stage – the answer is yes; we will move to the next stage. I am going to extend sovereignty and I don’t distinguish between settlement blocs and the isolated settlements…From my perspective, any point of settlement is Israeli, and we have responsibility, as the Israeli government. I will not uproot anyone, and I will not transfer sovereignty to the Palestinians.”[7]

netanyahu’s statement comes shortly after Trump recognised Zionist sovereignty over the illegally occupied Golan Heights, which had been captured from Syria in 1967 and annexed in 1981, and the American recognition of Jerusalem as the Zionist State’s capital.[8] According to Palestinian Chief Negotiator, Saeb Erekat:

“Israel will continue to brazenly violate international law for as long as the international community will continue to reward Israel with impunity, particularly with the Trump administration’s support and endorsement of Israel’s violation of the national and human rights of the people of Palestine.”[9]

Over 600,000 ‘Israelis’ now illegally reside on appropriated Palestinian land. The building of settlements is considered illegal under international law and continues despite multiple condemnatory resolutions passed by the United Nations. Over 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from their towns and cities throughout Palestine when militant Zionist groups (the National Military Organization, Defence, and Fighters for the Freedom of Israel) declared the state of ‘Israel’ in 1948.

Netanyahu is likely to team up with far right-wing politicians scattered down the polls, including naftali bennet and ayelet shaked’s ‘New Right’ party, the former of whom has previously boasted about killing Arabs himself after being challenged for inciting the execution of captured ‘terrorists’.[10] Shaked, who has served as the Zionist entity’s Justice minister since 2015, has also previously said that “the entire Palestinian people is the enemy…[including] the mothers of the martyrs, who send them to hell with flowers and kisses. They should follow their sons, nothing would be more just”.[11] Shaked has served as the Zionist entity’s Justice Minister since 2015.

As many cast their ballots to those politicians least inclined towards an amicable solution with the Palestinians, particularly those trapped in the Gaza Strip, ambitions towards a peaceful restoration of appropriated Palestinian land is quickly fading. Understanding this deadlock and the incapacity of what is now seen as a spineless United Nations Assembly, thousands of Gazans have taken to the open to demand that their land and rights are restored.

Despite the peaceful nature of these protests, as many as 83% of Zionists back the shooting of Palestinian protestors according to a survey conducted by Tel Aviv University and the Israel Democracy Institute, reflecting the outcome of the elections.[12] The incumbent political reality in the Zionist State, endorsed yet again, is unlikely to change public sentiments towards Palestinians, who live under the world’s longest military occupation in modern times.

The UK’s only NHS gender clinic for children has been accused of conducting live experiments, by administering life-changing medication without having any evidence of its long-term effects.

NHS specialists have warned the general public that vulnerable children and young teenagers are rushing to change their genders, without giving experts time to assess their cause of confusion surrounding gender. As a result, they are administered with irreversible hormone blockers.

Five clinicians from the Tavistock Centre in London have also resigned from the clinic and have spoken out against these procedures, citing concerns over ethics and safety regulations of the treatment administered to young people who identify as being transgender. The former staff were responsible for choosing which children should be allowed the drugs.

“I felt, for the last two years, what kept me in the job was the sense there was a huge number of children in danger. I was there to protect children from being damaged,” said one clinician, while another added that “this experimental treatment is being done on not only children, but on very vulnerable children”.[1]

All five staff believe that transgender charities have a harmful effect on confused children and teenagers as they present such a procedure, that aims to cure all problems without addressing their vulnerability and confusion.

Talking about the confusion faced by these children, one former clinician explained that these vulnerable children often suffer from mental health issues and difficulties or face physical and emotional abuse from family and friends. She added that these issues, which are the cause for such confusion, are being swept under the carpet and, thus, not analysed by specialists, who could reach credible conclusions and administer the appropriate solution to such issues.[2]

The staff continued to argue that children’s bodies are being damaged, in order to treat issues that stem from societal issues and interactions. Furthermore, the rush to celebrate this so-called “new identity” has allowed institutions to ignore the complex histories that would explain the state of confusion and vulnerability.

Backing these recent calls is Professor Carl Henegham, director of the Centre of Evidence-based Medicine at Oxford University, who has questioned the safety of the so-called drug therapies used by the clinic. He argues that these treatments are “supported by low-quality evidence, or in many cases, no evidence at all”, and that without proper examination, such procedures could have damaging consequences, possibly leaving a young person worse off than before.[1] He adds:

“Given paucity of evidence, the off-label use of drugs [for outcomes not covered by the medicine’s licence] in gender dysphoria treatment largely means an unregulated live experiment on children,”[3]

Different cultural ideas and beliefs about gender and sexuality have increasingly been the cause of disputes and controversy lately. In Birmingham, for example, hundreds of Muslim parents have been protesting the assistant head of their children’s school “proselytising” LGBT ideology to the 99% Muslim student body.[4]

In Wales, there have been reports of female pupils missing school because they do not like the mixed gender toilets installed. Female students opt to stay at home as they feel they cannot use the bathroom, for fear of being “period shamed” by boys who would use the same bathroom.[5]

There are also reports of Muslim students, who wear the Hijāb, feeling uncomfortable in going to the mixed gender bathroom, as they worry boys would look at them whilst they adjusted their Hijāb.[5]

Another study conducted by the University of Warwick has found that four in ten female students have suffered sexual harassment, in schools in England and Wales, due to the imposition of mixed gender toilettes.[5]

In the name of Allāh the Most Gracious, Most Merciful. May Allāh’s peace and blessings be sent upon His final prophet and messenger, Muhammad (salla Allāhu ‘alayhi wasalam).

Everyone has heard of the atrocity that took place in New Zealand on Friday the 8th of Rajab 1440, corresponding to 15th March 2019. The harrowing terrorist attack on two Masājid left at least 50 innocent Muslim worshippers killed and scores more injured.[1]

1. We have to have Active Patience

We begin by offering our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who were killed and injured. We also extend our condolences to the victims of Israel’s ruthless aerial bombardment of Gaza that occurred simultaneously. We exhort Muslims to embrace active patience (Sabr), rather than passive patience. The latter is to passively accept the news of a calamity because one is left with no choice; whereas active patience is to internally accept and be content that it happened by Allāh’s pre-ordained decree and ontological will, thereby attaining the fullest reward. On that form of patience, Allāh says in the Qur’ān:

“We will test you with a certain amount of fear and hunger and loss of wealth and life and fruits. But give good news to the steadfast: Those who, when disaster strikes them, say, ‘We belong to Allāh and to Him we will return.’ Those are the people who will have blessings and mercy from their Lord; they are the ones who are guided.”[2]

When presented with these difficult events, we cannot but be reminded of the nature of this life, that it is nothing but a test of many levels and types. Allāh says:

“He who created death and life to test which of you is best in action. He is the Almighty, the Ever-Forgiving.”[3]

All communities are likewise affected by tests of this nature. Shootings at the hands of extremists are sadly commonplace in the world, harming Muslims and non-Muslims. Each and every community has borne a share of this pain. It is, however Allāh’s blessing on us that we enjoy comforting hopes of immense rewards and compensation in the hereafter we believe in, something many other communities may not internalise. As Allāh says:

“…If you feel pain, they too are feeling it just as you are, but you hope for something from Allāh which they cannot hope for. Allāh is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”[4]

New Zealand’s victims were killed in the Masjid, the most beloved place to Allāh on earth, on Friday (Jumu’ah), the most beloved day to Allāh, during the congregational Salāh beloved to Allāh. May Allāh shower them with His immense mercy and elevate their status in Jannah. We also ask Him to give them the best recompense for their families and loved ones.

As the dust begins to settle and the world begins to come to terms with this egregious event, below we outline some key lessons to equip Muslims around the world and particularly in the West with the appropriate mind-set moving forward.

2. Islamophobia is not new

The first point to note is as the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils elucidated precisely, moments after the event:

“This massacre today is the product of the ever-increasing Islamophobia and marginalisation of Muslims and is a reminder to all concerned, including political leaders and media commentators, of the horrific consequences that an atmosphere of hate and division can lead to.”[5]

Those same white supremacist structures and trends have for decades forced the international community to scapegoat and focus on so-called “Islamic extremism” as a fosterer of terrorism. Countless programmes, schemes, curriculums, symposiums, conventions and even large-scale military operations have been conducted on the back of this current iteration of the ancient Orientalist myth. Is there an equivalent amount of focus on the driving forces of terrorism committed against Muslims internationally, despite being on the receiving end of most terrorism? Are such anti-Muslim atmospheres and catalysts being criminalised in the same way? Clearly not.

Take Gaza as an example. The almost decade-long besieged territory was at the receiving end of an onslaught Israeli occupying forces that targeted some 100 targets, including many civilian facilities, at around the same time as the attack in New Zealand. This is despite all resistance factions outright denying responsibility for the “rocket attacks” on “Tel Aviv” used to justify the blitz. The illegitimacy of the assault needed not be brought to light by influential international actors, because as far as Gaza is concerned, Zionists are implicitly endorsed by default to carry on. For Gaza, there pre-exists an atmosphere of legal endorsement for the European colonists to assault that particular people in the “largest concentration camp in the world”. When it is sensed that such an atmosphere is global, belligerents will presume that if their primary targets are Muslim, they can simply ‘get on with it’ with impunity.

3. We fear only Allāh

Despite the first point above, we should not allow fear to penetrate our hearts and reside therein. Such fear is of the worst enemies of man and is a sensation that can destroy them even before anything transpires. Apart from natural, temporary fear, we as Muslims should strive to drive out every other fear existing in our hearts save that for Allāh the Almighty:

“It was only Satan frightening you through his friends. But do not fear them – fear Me if you are believers.”[7]

This fear leads to one internalising the feeling of subjugation which is the key attitude of defeated people. Leaders do not accept subjugation. The Prophet’s companion Khabbāb b. al-Aratt reported:

“We complained to the Messenger of Allāh regarding the persecution inflicted upon us by the disbelievers while he was lying in the shade of the Ka’bah, having made a pillow of his cloak. We submitted: “Why do you not supplicate for our prevalence (over the opponents)?” He replied, “Among those people before you, a man would be seized and held in a pit dug for him in the ground and he would be sawed into two halves from his head, and his flesh torn away from his bones with an iron comb; but, in spite of this, he would not wean away from his Faith. By Allāh, Allāh will bring this matter to its consummation until a rider will travel from Sana’a to Hadhramaut fearing none except Allāh, and except the wolf for his sheep, but you are in too much of a hurry.”[8]

We should never allow our emotions to take control of our reactions. On the one hand, we should not behave as if we were anticipating such events in order to continue mourning. Some Muslims treat mourning as an objective and presume that the more we mourn, the better and this absolutely wrong. More on this is outlined later on.

4. They are not all the same

We should not presume, even subtly, that all white non-Muslims approve of or celebrate this crime, or allow our words or reactions to emit such an assumption. Yes, there are indeed white supremacists, Christian extremists, Neo-Nazis and others today who hold considerable jealousy and ancient hatred for Islām and Muslims, that has precipitated in acts and policies of barbarism for hundreds of years. Many thinkers have pointed out the unity of the Orientialist discourse running through some sectors of western European thought from the Crusades, Spanish Inquisition, Colonialism all the way to the so-called “War on Terror” and far right Islamophobia today. There is a reason this terrorist reportedly had Crusader slogans on his weapons, spoke with the vocabulary of the War on Terror and also issued threats to the stereotypical enemy of white Christendom—Turks (including Erdogan himself).

But just as there is a long tradition of hatred of Islām and Muslims in western Europe, there have also been a number of enlightened thinkers, policy makers and average citizens who opposed this shameful history, who are neutral (if not warm to Islām) and desire justice for all—including Muslims.

In the Qur’an, Allāh confirms this diversity and cultivates in us this lens of justice when forming our presumptions about members of wider society:

“And among the People of the Scripture is he who, if you entrust him with a great amount [of wealth], he will return it to you. And among them is he who, if you entrust him with a [single] silver coin, he will not return it to you unless you are constantly standing over him [demanding it]. That is because they say, “There is no blame upon us concerning the unlearned.” They tell a lie against Allah while they know [it].”[9]

5. Be the Best Ummah to Lead Mankind

We should view these atrocities and calamities from the lens of Allāh’s preparing us to take a leadership role in this devastated world. Allāh chose this Ummah to lead humanity for its objective characteristic of commanding right, forbidding wrong and Īmān in Allāh:

“You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and have Īmān in Allāh. If only the People of the Scripture had Īmān, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient. [10]

Allāh does not allow matters to occur arbitrarily and without great purpose. The first is of course to elevate the status of the victims in the hereafter, forgive their sins, to give them the best compensation in this world and the next, and so on. But for those still living, the primary objective is to prepare them for a leading role and as Allāh’s stewards of the earth. It is not possible to attain leadership without experiencing trials and tribulations and this is indeed a divine law. Such events should direct our focus to creating a real and powerful Muslim voice on the global level that appreciably impacts global laws and governance, for the benefit of all.

This position of leadership will not be given to weak, defeated Muslims but to those who are strong and resilient; strong in their beliefs, emotions and all else. The Prophet (salla Allāhu ‘alayhi wasalam) said:

“A strong believer is better and dearer to Allāh than a weak one, while both are good.”[11]

6. The world needs a strong Muslim voice

The absence of a strong Muslim voice in the world today is what is causing humanity at large to suffer. This simply cannot be achieved unless the Ummah is united. In turn, this macro unity between different sects, countries and societies cannot be achieved unless micro unity within small communities and between individuals is realised. Unity is one of the key principles Islām calls for. As Allāh tells us:

“Hold fast to the rope of Allāh all together, and do not separate. Remember Allāh’s blessing to you when you were enemies and He joined your hearts together so that you became brothers by His blessing. You were on the very brink of a pit of the Fire and He rescued you from it. In this way Allāh makes His Signs clear to you, so that hopefully you will be guided.”[12]

The many steps required in the direction of unity can be addressed in another article insha’Allāh and here we lay out general principles.

7. Now is the time to reach out

We should utilise this challenge as an opportunity to give Da’wah to non-Muslims. Many are now sympathising with Muslims, others want to know more about Islām; why we gather for sermons and Allāh’s worship on Fridays, why we are calling those killed ‘martyrs’ and why we strengthen one another as to their going to a ‘better destination’ despite the grave worldly losses. Some will want to know how we Muslims view life and death and now is the opportune time to address this curiosity.

Muslims in the West in particular should accept that they are now western Muslims. Their involvement on a socio-political level is a must. We should involve ourselves in each and every debate that takes place, and make our voices heard. Isolation does not help us, nor does it help our countries become more accommodating of our needs and, more importantly, safer places for us and the rest of the society at large.

We ask Allāh to forgive us and those who preceded us in faith and to shower his mercy and forgiveness on the victims of this horrific atrocity and all of those killed unjustly around the world. Āmīn.

How often are the undertones of racism expressed in our opinions. We sometimes make subtle jokes or judgements that incriminate people of colour. We easily suspect a black man over a white man – does this ring a bell? Whilst many will deny that they are racist persons, it is an unfortunate truth that racism lies in the depths of our hearts.

What is racism?

It can be defined as; “prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior.”

So this includes making racial remarks of someone who is of a different skin colour.

Because of an uneasiness towards South Africa’s troubled past, we often transport ourselves to a utopia, oft reciting the mantra: ‘we are no longer racist. We all live together in peace.’

But is this really true?

The answer is a deafening no.

South Africa has a long way to go from being completely racist to anti-racist. And I would like to implicate the Muslim community in particular. Because Islam teaches us oh-so-clearly that racism is rejected in our teachings both as Muslim and as human beings

Breaking down the barrier

I am well aware that one article will not convince the entire rainbow nation, but whoever will derive some positive aspect, this is for you.

From the above we can deduce that the Apostle of Allah distinctively warned against violating ones family, ones property and ones honour.

What is family and honour?

Family and honour are all that make a person genetically; physically and emotionally. Insulting someone physically and emotionally is thus a violation. To insult someone based on their appearance, especially in terms of their skin colour is a violation crossed beyond limits. As we know, Allah has created all of us. We do not choose what family we are born into and we cannot choose the colour of our skin.

Therefore, discriminating against a person of a different colour because their skin colour is different to yours, or participating in racial stereotyping and the like; you are violating that person and you have directly insulted the creation of your Lord. Who creates people of colour? Allah alone.

“O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female and have made you into nations and tribes for you to know one another. Truly, the noblest of you with God is the most pious. Truly, God is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” (Quran, 49:13)

Are you going to hold such a heavy burden in the court of Allah? I should hope not. So discard your racist ideals.

Not so easy? It really is. People describe racism as being innate. Really? Ask yourself this question? Can you give up a bad habit such as smoking? Can a person give up backbiting? The answer is yes for both.

So likewise, you can surely give up your racist lifestyle. As smoking is a lifestyle, so is racism. Is this the society we choose to live in?

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “O people! Your God is one and your forefather (Adam) is one. An Arab is not better than a non-Arab and a non-Arab is not better than an Arab, and a red (i.e. white tinged with red) person is not better than a black person and a black person is not better than a red person, except in piety.”[Musnad Ahmad, #22978.]

DID YOU KNOW?

Or Sayyidina Bilaal (RA)? Or maybe, Sayyidatina Haleemah (RA) the wet nurse of Rasullulah (SAW) was a black woman?

Oh, but there are countless Sahaabah and heroes in Islam that were people of different colour.

Ever since the days of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Islam has provided a vivid example of how racism can be ended. The annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah shows the real Islamic brotherhood of all races and nations, when about two million Muslims from all over the world come to Makkah to perform the pilgrimage.

Islam is a religion of justice, peace and reason. Allah has stated:

“Truly God commands you to give back trusts to those to whom they are due, and when you judge between people, to judge with justice….” (Quran,4:58)

“…And let not the hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety….” (Quran, 5:8)

The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “People, beware of injustice,for injustice shall be darkness on the Day of Judgment.” [Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #2447.]

And those who have not gotten their rights (i.e. what they have a just claim to) in this life will receive them on the Day of Judgment, as the Prophet (SAW) said: “On the Day of Judgment, rights will be given to those to whom they are due (and wrongs will be redressed)…” [Saheeh Muslim, #2582]

The worst part, is to express your racism to others, so that it will have an influence on them. The best way to rid yourself of racism is to dispel negative connotations to people of colour, to voice only what is good and to embrace all without having any association to their color –despite the persons actions being good or bad. See the person for who they are. It is your duty to teach your children and those around you about equality.

At least 49 Muslim worshippers were killed in two mosques in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand after several terrorists stormed the facilities during the Friday sermon.

Witnesses describe how men, women and children ran for their lives whilst people were bleeding on the ground as the horrific shooting persisted for up to 20 minutes in the light of day. In her statement to the nation, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said “this will be one of New Zealand’s darkest days.”[1]

It is not yet confirmed how many shooters were involved, but reports suggest that this was a coordinated, premeditated terrorist act by right-wing Islamophobes with anti-immigrant and political ideologies, inspired by notorious fascist commentators.

At least one shooter, identified by the name of ‘Brenton Tatyana’, a 28-year-old Australian, was believed to have written a sickening 16,000-word manifesto outlining his intentions and declaring is support for Trump as “a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose,”[2] before sickeningly livestreaming the entire rampage. The manifesto appeared on the website 4chan and attracted horrifying comments in support.

Muslims Australia, the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, said in a press release:[3]

“The massacre today is a product of the ever-increasing Islamophobia and marginalisation of Muslims and is a reminder to all concerned, including political leaders and media commentators, of the horrific consequences that an atmosphere of hate and division can lead to. No country or community is immune to such atrocities.”

Of the confirmed 40 people martyred, 30 were killed at Al Noor mosque and 10 killed at Linwood mosque. At least 60 people were also seriously injured. More than 400 people were gathered for Friday Jumu’ah prayers and the shooting started at 1:45pm local time, corresponding to 12:45am GMT.

The victims include women and children as the terrorists moved to the women’s area during the killing spree. Worshippers reported rapid gunfire and pleaded to Allah that the terrorist “run out of bullets”.[4]

Parents were being advised against going to school to collect their children as police put the district on lockdown. Seemingly the lockdown has now been lifted.

Witnesses said that the Bangladeshi cricket team who were due to play in New Zealand in a test match on Saturday were present during the sermon and narrowly escaped.

In a statement released on its Facebook page at around 5am GMT, the South Auckland Muslim Association SAMA said:

“We are deeply saddened and disturbed by the attack on the Muslim community, targeted while at prayer. Our thoughts go to the victims and their families shattered by this terrible crime. It was with tremendous shock, sadness and anger that we heard of the tragic and fatal shooting in one of the Mosques in Christchurch. We condemn this terrorist attack on Muslims in the Mosque.”

The statement added that “we call upon the government and other communities alike to be vigilant in combating hatred against all minorities, knowing that prejudice and intolerance can pose a lethal threat to innocent life.”

According to The Associated Press, police say that three men and one woman are ‘in custody’ and that a number of improvised explosive devices found in the vehicles of the terrorists were diffused.[5]

In a tweet researcher at the University of Melbourne, George Rennie, said: “this *is* political, and requires some political response, but one that rationally assesses the problem and responds accordingly.”[6]

Muslim statesmen including Pakistani PM Imran Khan and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan were also quick to condemn the act:

Imran Khan

@ImranKhanPTI

Shocked and strongly condemn the Christchurch, New Zealand, terrorist attack on mosques. This reaffirms what we have always maintained: that terrorism does not have a religion. Prayers go to the victims and their families.

Rejoicing in what Allāh has bestowed upon them of His bounty, and they receive good tidings about those [to be martyred] after them who have not yet joined them – that there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.

For the first time in five years, hundreds of Palestinian Muslims from the Gaza Strip will be able to perform the religious rituals of Umrah in the sacred city of Mecca, Middle East Eye has learned.

Palestinians in the enclave have been living for more than a decade under a land, sea and air blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt since 2007, which has restricted an estimated 2 million people from freely travelling abroad to study, worship, visit relatives or seek medical treatment.

Following discussions between the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority (PA) and Egyptian officials, the first convoy for Umrah will set out this Sunday.

Umrah is a Muslim pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Unlike the Hajj, Umrah is not bound to take place at a specific time of the year.

The last time Palestinians from Gaza visited Mecca for Umrah was in 2014, although 6,600 people from East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip travelled to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage in 2018.

Since 2014, reports have emerged each year that Egyptian authorities would allow Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to travel through the Rafah crossing into Egypt and fly from Cairo to Saudi Arabia.

But each time, Egypt did not issue any permits, citing “security risks” in the Sinai Peninsula, where the Egyptian army have been fighting various armed groups since 2011.

This time, news that the Palestinians will be able to perform Umrah has been fully confirmed, Awad Abu Mazkour, the head of the Hajj and Umrah Agencies’ Society in Gaza, told MEE.

In November, an agreement was made between the PA and Egyptian officials to allow 800 Palestinians per week, a total of 3,200 each month, to travel through the Rafah crossing, for three months until next May.

“We have sent the passports to our agents in the Palestinian embassy in Cairo, who will work to process visas from the Saudi embassy and consulates,” Abu Mazkour said.

Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, which has been governed by the Hamas movement since 2007, and the occupied West Bank travel on passports issued by the PA, while Palestinians from occupied East Jerusalem travel on documents issued by Jordan or Israel.

Risky journey

“At 8am on Sunday, 800 people will gather at the Rafah crossing, and at 9am the Egyptian side of the terminal opens,” Abu Mazkour said.

“We will travel by buses through Sinai to Cairo, and on the next day, we will board flights to Jeddah and then take buses to Mecca.”

The journey to reach Mecca will take an estimated 48 hours and cover a total of 1,650km.

The most dangerous and risky stretch of the journey will be the 371km on the al-Arish and al-Qantara roads in the north of the embattled Sinai peninsula.

“This route would take us 12 hours by bus to cross because of the security measures in Sinai and the checkpoints,” Abu Mazkour said.

“In the past, al-Arish and al-Qantara took just five hours to reach Cairo.”

In 2014, attacks on the Egyptian army and security forces reached a high point when 31 Egyptian soldiers were killed in October of that year.

Abu Mazkour said that Egyptian officials told them in 2014 that due to “security risks” they could not guarantee the protection of Palestinian Umrah buses on Sinai’s land, and thus travel permits for Umrah agencies would not be supplied.

Speaking to MEE last month, Egyptian soldiers described Sinai as “their Vietnam“.

Despite the risks, PA officials will join 18 buses on Sunday that will carry the 800 Umrah pilgrims, who will be accompanied by Egyptian security and army vehicles through Sinai for their protection.

“We understand the risks in Sinai. It is a long convoy of buses, and we need military vehicles to accompany us as they did between 2011 and 2014,” Abu Mazkour said.

Fourteen nights in Mecca and Medina

The Umrah season, which started in September, has been disrupted by a Saudi measure that restricted Palestinians’ right to get visas on temporary travel documents to travel to Saudi Arabia.

The measure was scrapped in January, after nearly five months of a visa ban that affected almost three million Palestinians in East Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestinians inside Israel.

An average of 50,000 to 70,000 people from East Jerusalem and the West Bank undertake the Umrah pilgrimage annually.

In 2014, between 20,000 and 30,000 people from Gaza Strip went to Mecca for Umrah.

Abu Hamza, head of the Honiaf Umrah agency in Gaza City, told MEE that this season’s Umrah numbers would not reach more than 10,000 people.

“I have 500 people who applied. The economic situation in Gaza is terrible. People are eager to go to Umrah, but they can’t afford it,” Abu Hamza said.

The cost of a 14-night Umrah package, including transport, is 800 Jordanian dinars ($1,125).

The price has increased by around 200-250 dinars ($282-352) since 2014, Abu Hamza said.

“The bus and flights tickets are the most expensive part of the package, an estimated 500 dinars [$705]” he said.

Abu Hamza said that the journeys in March would be each Sunday, on 3, 10, 17 and 24 March. Palestinians would spend 11 nights in Mecca and three nights in Medina.

“After May, in the month of Ramadan, the price is hiked, including flight tickets and hotel rooms,” Abu Hamza said.

Mohammed Hamdan, head of the Diouf al-Rahman Umrah agency, added that a Saudi rule implemented in 2016 requires that anyone visiting Mecca twice for Umrah had to pay a fee of 2,000 Saudi riyals ($533), which would put people off from going to Umrah again this year.

“The price is already high, and $533 is half the amount of the Umrah package,” Hamdan said.

Islamabad accuses New Delhi of violating its airspace and says military will respond to “uncalled for aggression”.

The Indian air force (IAF) has carried out air strikes against Pakistan, stating that the attacks targeted supposed terrorist training camps belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).

Pakistan, however, has said that the attacks took place in an area that neither populated by civilians nor the military, providing pictures that purport to show an area of a forest that had been bombed.

Indian foreign secretary, Vijay Gokhale, said that the airstrike had killed a large number of people and had avoided areas populated by civilians.

“Credible intel was received that JeM was planning more suicide attacks in India. In the face of imminent danger, a pre-emptive strike became absolutely necessary”, Gokhale said in a news conference. [1]

The airstrikes took place in the northern Pakistani village of Jaba according to the military, 60km from the border that separates Indian and Pakistani administered Kashmir.

Islamabad also said that the Pakistani Air Force had forced the Indian fighter jets out of Pakistan’s airspace and reported no deaths or injuries in the airstrikes that occurred in Balakot, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

“Indian aircrafts intruded from Muzafarabad sector. Facing timely and effective response from Pakistan Air Force released payload in haste while escaping which fell near Balakot. No casualties or damage,” Major General Asif Ghafoor said in a statement in the aftermath of the botched attack. [2]

“If there was any infrastructure there, then there would be some debris. They say [hundreds of] people were killed – I say that if there were even 10 people, there would be some bodies there,” [1] Maj Gen Ghafoor said.

Shortly after the attack, Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan announced a special meeting of the National Command Authority, the government body that overlooks Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, for Wednesday.

“Once again [the] Indian government has resorted to a self-serving, reckless and fictitious claim,” Khan said in a statement.[1] “This action has been done for domestic consumption, being in an election environment, putting regional peace and stability at grave risk,” he added.

Khan also said that Pakistan’s military had now reserved the right to respond and would respond accordingly at a time and place of its choosing.

“Now, it is time for India to wait for our response,” Maj. Gen. Ghafoor said. “The response will come at the point and time of our choosing, wherever the civil and military leadership decides and has, as a matter of fact, decided. It is your turn now to wait, and get ready for our surprise,” he added.

According to local residents, who spoke to Al Jazeera, the area was once used by JeM, however they withdrew from the region and the camp had been shut “years ago”. [1]

The Indian airstrike has considerably heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations. The attack follows Indian accusations that Pakistan was behind an attack in the Indian occupied Kashmir that killed and injured a number of Indian paramilitary soldiers.

Islamabad has repeatedly rejected Indian claims that it was behind the attack as well as supporting armed terrorists. [3]